Light shone down and then darkness fell repeatedly. It felt as if someone was waving their hand over my closed eyelids.
As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw four pairs of pupils.
In front of me, four people were huddled together, looking down at me. They were chubby-cheeked children who looked no more than four or five years old.
“Um, are you awake?”
“Are you stupid, Young Master Ivena? If they opened their eyes, of course they’re awake.”
“Everyone, be quiet.”
Hearing their imperfectly pronounced conversation made my hair stand on end.
It was no wonder, as the children’s touch, though not malicious, was much too rough for me. If a baby rabbit were to be handled carelessly, it would be no small matter.
As I suddenly sat up, the ivory cloth that had been covering me slid off.
“Ah…!”
As I hastily grabbed the cloth, I noticed my elongated arms and legs.
‘As I thought…’
I’ve turned into a human. As I hurriedly pulled the cloth over myself, I noticed a pocket watch dangling from my wrist.
What happened? I had pulled at Ash’s backpack to retrieve the Phrenium, and then… As I was just waking up and still in a daze, I touched my forehead.
“It’s definitely a rabbit person, I told you their appearance is like a rabbit…”
“Why are they… here? Ivena… Young Master, go and ask.”
“Why are you blaming me…”
The children’s constant whispering to my right kept scattering my thoughts. Then, I heard a peculiar pattering sound, and suddenly a black furball jumped into my arms.
“Ash!”
Ash, seemingly happy to see me after a long time, kept licking my cheeks.
Though the fangs brushing against my cheeks were a bit scary, I tried to endure it. With my eyes tightly shut, I shared in the affection, but belatedly, I looked around.
It was already bright outside, and although the place where I was lying had a similar structure, it was not Rune’s guest room. Judging by the antique frames, old furniture, and jars, it seemed to be an unused space.
After checking my pheromones, I fiddled with the pocket watch in my hand.
Not feeling any physical pain and with my pheromones stabilized, it was likely that I had unconsciously used the Pherenium. The need for the dominant pheromone suddenly became very apparent.
‘…Only two uses left.’
I sighed with concern and made eye contact with the four children who were huddled in the corner.
As I flinched and my shoulders tensed, the children also jumped in surprise. They were covering their eyes with their hands, but it was clear they were observing me through the gaps in their fingers.
After several tens of seconds of this standoff, the smallest and most shy-looking boy among them timidly approached.
“Um.”
The boy, who had come closer before I knew it, cupped his hands together and whispered. His cuteness naturally broke down my guard, and I awkwardly nodded with a smile.
“Yeees…”
“Lady Aria is wondering why you’re just sitting there like a thunder-naked child.”
My eyes slowly lowered at the bizarre words that popped out of the child’s mouth.
My white hair, reaching down to my knees, and the ivory cloth were all tangled in a mess. I needed to get dressed first.
* * *
It was a tense and dizzying moment. In front of me was a sheer cliff, and behind me, a chimera was closing in.
My gaze met the three-headed chimera’s in mid-air. Realizing that retreat was no longer an option, I drew my sword from my waist.
With the sound of the blade scraping, I leaped high into the air.
“So, so what happened?”
The four children, huddled together, swallowed nervously. Their round pupils quivered with tension.
“After a fierce battle, my armor was all torn apart, and with the help of my closest ally, I collapsed here.”
“By closest ally, do you mean that black panther?”
“Exactly.”
Glances darted from multiple pairs of eyes toward Ash, then back again.
“Hero, did you defeat the chimera?”
Hero? It was a title I’d never expected to hear in my life, so I covered my mouth with both hands. Hmm, my cheeks puffed up with a smile.
“Well, anyway. In the final moments, the chimera coughed up this pocket watch. It’s a rare treasure that all heroes seek.”
I did feel a bit guilty comparing Ahin to a three-headed monster… but I steadied my trembling voice and shook the pocket watch, which was now looped around my wrist like a bracelet.
“No matter how strong a chimera is, when faced with my attack, it…”
“Dies?”
“Exactly.”
I flexed my arm, showing off non-existent muscles.
“Wow, that’s really, really cool!”
“The legend of the chimera must be true. Wow, you really are a hero.”
“See, I told you from the beginning that this was the hero from the storybook. They had the same hair color and were commanding a black panther!”
A wave of excitement swept through the children, who believed every word without question.
The hero they mentioned from the storybook sounded a lot like Madam Valence. I realized I might have taken the lie too far, but there was no turning back now.
“Shh, for now, I’m on a secret mission for the Rabbit Territory.”
I placed my finger to my lips, and the children quickly covered their mouths while nodding.
“The black panther did a great job too, she was in charge of the Chimera’s flank. Ash, salute.”
Thanks to the practice in Rune’s carriage, Ash quickly snapped to a salute. The children, now swarming around Ash, continued their excited discussion. Annoyed by their tiny hands, Ash flicked her tail to shake them off.
‘Sorry, Ash.’
Having finally managed to redirect my gaze, I took a moment to straighten my clothes.
Meimi had packed a light purple blouse and white light armor pants into Ash’s backpack for me. Considering that I wasn’t yet skilled in dressing myself, she had thoughtfully prepared something I could easily wear without assistance.
‘Meimi…’
Overcome with sudden emotion, I bit my fist. I set aside the unexpected wave of gratitude and began to methodically piece together the situation.
It seemed that Ash, noticing something was off with me, had moved me here, and then I somehow transformed into a human. Afterward, it appeared that the children, who were playing hide-and-seek, had found me.
Though the children weren’t beastfolk like Ash, their varied eye colors suggested they were the children of nobles from other territories, invited to the estate.
I stood up and approached the window. Just in time, I saw a familiar, luxurious carriage pulling up in the distance.
‘Ahin.’
The burly coachman, who looked far from ordinary, the black horse adorned with expensive jewels, and just the presence of Jane confirmed that it was indeed the carriage from the House of Grace.
‘Did they go out and come back?’
I wondered where they might have gone. As I pondered, I unconsciously gripped the windowsill tighter. My already pale knuckles turned even whiter.
Perhaps being in human form was an advantage. As a rabbit, my parents would easily recognize me if they met me, but I had to stay with Ahin. The added difficulty of not being able to communicate fully was just a bonus.
From the stopped carriage, I saw Ahin and Everine disembark, both clad in light armor. They were far enough away that I could only distinguish them by their hair color, not their expressions.
‘What’s this…’
My eyes stung with an inexplicable wave of emotion. It had only been a little more than a day since we were apart, so why did it feel like such a long time?
Thinking myself foolish, I quickly pressed my back against the wall and slid down to the floor. It was because Ahin’s gaze was directed upwards.
Did that beast have eyes on the top of his head too? Muttering a meaningless grumble, I bit my lip.
‘If I’m with Ahin…’
If I were to meet a member of the House of Rabian, who knows how I might be treated. I didn’t want Ahin to witness that side of things.
‘…What should I do.’
The banquet was set for this evening. Since the Rabian estate wasn’t far from here, even if my parents attended, it would likely be closer to the evening.
Lost in thought, I raised my eyes from the floor. A small boy, who hadn’t said a word this entire time, was approaching me.
‘Is he from the Capybara clan?’
He was a child with black eyes and navy hair, giving off a somewhat dazed impression.
“Injury.”
The boy, with his adorable voice, pointed to my hand. There was a scratch on the back of it, though I didn’t recall when I had bumped into something. Before I could even respond, the boy grabbed my wrist.
“Let’s go.”
“Huh?”
Reflexively standing up, I looked down at the boy in confusion.
“Oh my, isn’t that an injury you got while fighting the chimera? Come on, let’s go.”
“Russell’s mother is an excellent healer.”
“She’s downstairs, so it’ll be quick!”
The children, who had already caught up to me, gathered their strength and started pushing me from behind. Even Ash, who had noticed the scratch on my hand, joined in.
As I awkwardly stumbled forward, I turned back in bewilderment, only to see them standing at attention and saluting with determined expressions. It was an awkward moment, to say the least.
* * *
The rabbit was gone. Rune, who deeply regretted letting his guard down and falling asleep the previous night, was frantically running through the mansion.
‘Damn it.’
Although the rabbit was small enough to fit in a fist, he had disappeared along with the conspicuous black panther, so Rune thought he’d find them quickly. But strangely, there was no trace of them anywhere.
Rune stopped running down the purple-carpeted hallway. Two people were approaching from the opposite direction, people he both did and didn’t want to see.
His golden eyes quickly scanned Ahin. The light armor’s pockets were empty, and the black panther that had always irked Rune was nowhere to be seen.
Rune, now anxious, found himself circling around Ahin and Everine, checking every pocket—jacket, pants, back pockets—thoroughly.
By the third round, Ahin, who had been silently following him with his eyes, drew his sword.
The passing servants, startled, pressed themselves flat against the walls in fear. Everine, who gestured for them to calm down, offered a piece of advice.
“Lord Ahin, please restrain yourself while in another territory.”
“I’m already irritated because my pockets feel empty.”
“And how exactly is that related to drawing your sword?”
“He was scouring my pockets with those filthy eyes.”
Rune, now breathing heavily and darting his eyes around, suddenly realized how odd his behavior was and waved his hands in denial.
“It’s not that—”
Rune had been about to explain that the rabbit he had brought was missing when his voice suddenly cut off. Ahin wasn’t looking at him anymore. Sensing something was off, Rune turned his head to follow Ahin’s gaze down the right hallway.
Quickly, three small heads that had been peeking out from behind a pillar disappeared. They belonged to noble children, about five years old, of herbivorous clans.
A cautious discussion ensued.
“Whoa, they’re really red. They must be black panthers. I’ve never seen beastfolk like them before!”
“Yeah, judging by their eyes, they have to be black panther and lion beastfolk.”
“Uh… but aren’t cow beastfolk’s eyes also golden…?”
After a brief silence, the three pairs of eyes peeked out again from behind the pillar. The children, blinking and alternating their gazes between Ahin, Everine, and Rune, hurriedly put their heads together.
“They have fangs. They must be from the black panther and lion clans.”
“But the hero said… the hero said that all black panthers are rowdy. But these people somehow…”
The boy scratched his cheek in confusion. Contrary to Vivi’s gossip, the black panther clan members they were seeing in person were calm and possessed a strikingly beautiful appearance.
“I think the part about lions being lazy was spot on. That lion’s eyes look really suspicious.”
Although the child’s pronunciation was unclear, the meaning was clear enough for Ahin, Everine, and Rune, whose eyebrows twisted in a mixture of confusion and amusement.
The servants, who were already nervous, could only pace anxiously, unable to intervene. They couldn’t fathom what kind of hero would go around badmouthing other clans like that.
Ahin, sheathing his sword, smirked and pointed at Rune.
“Your eyes look really suspicious.”
Rune, standing askew, scratched his ear.
“I feel like I’m hearing some nonsense from somewhere.”
Hearing the exchange between the two, the children peeked their heads out again.
“Wow… Look at the size of him. It’s like he could pierce the sky.”
“Young Master Ivena, no matter how big he is, he can’t pierce the sky.”
“Oh- now that he’s closed his mouth, I can’t see the fangs. What a shame.”
Their eyes were full of awe and anticipation towards the beastfolk. Ahin, crouching down, decided to meet their expectations by lifting his upper lip.
“Grr.”
“Run away!”
“Aahhh!”
The children, laughing gleefully, bolted down the hallway.
“At this rate, the young masters will truly believe black panthers are mischievous,” Everine remarked, looking down at Ahin without much emotion. After all, this was the first time since returning from the Information Guild that Ahin, who had been in a foul mood, was actually enjoying himself.
“When Vivi does that, she usually plays dead right away.”
“She’s trying to lure you into a false sense of security so she can kick you. It’s her habitual strategy.”
As Rune listened to their conversation about the rabbit, he suddenly snapped his head towards the direction the children had run off in.
No way. A suspicion crept into his mind, and Rune hurriedly started to move. Watching him disappear quickly, Ahin narrowed his eyes.
“Suspicious.”
“Are you talking about Lord Rune’s eyes?”
“No, his behavior. He’s being too diligent.”
“Indeed, that’s unusual for him. When he was circling around earlier, he seemed to be looking at your pockets. Do you think he might be searching for the rabbit?”
Ahin, brushing his hair back, turned to look out the window. Vivi was certainly enjoying tea with Valence at Grace’s mansion by now.
“…And Vivi’s reply?”
“If the lord’s owl is diligent, we should receive the rabbit’s reply by this evening.”
“Too slow. Summon the gorilla.”
Just as I feared, things always seem to take a turn for the worse when you least expect it. I had a bad feeling about this.
* * *
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